My experience is that the best music bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart. For music to have that ability, the intention behind the music has to be right. If the intention of the composer/artist is to touch and uplift, that will come through, and a good percentage of the listeners will feel energy at their heart center. Within the heart is where all our best character attributes reside. That’s where a wealth of compassion and forgiveness is contained, where we’re not afraid, where we have a consistent loving awareness, and where we trust the universe. When we are in that lovely place, we are confident that all our affairs will be arranged. We’re in touch with our divine self.

I have a daily spiritual practice. It starts with a cold bath followed by a half hour of really strenuous Kundalini yoga, followed by vocal warmups from the classical Indian raga tradition that are very meditative. I chant really low notes for long periods of time and then start to gradually work my way up the octaves while concentrating on moving the energy upward. Once I’ve really got everything going in terms of the physical body, and once I’ve got my emotions calmed down from the chanting, I pull out my guitar, start singing, and let my creativity fly. Inevitably, if I’ve been fully present for my practice, all sorts of wonderful things will start flowing from that sacred space.